For more than 50 years, United Guaranty has provided the best in mortgage insurance products and services to mortgage lenders and credit unions of all sizes. Today we also offer expert risk management and financial services to help you protect your investments and expand your markets. Established in Greensboro, N.C., in 1963, United Guaranty now employs more than 900 professionals and support staff at its headquarters and in locations throughout the country. Mortgage insurance, or simply "MI," helps people buy a house with only a modest down payment. This is because MI protects lenders against the increased risk of borrower default related to mortgages with high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. With MI, a mortgage lender can lend a greater portion of the value of a house instead of only 80 percent.